RARITAN TWP. — Hunterdon Central High School administrators removed a well-known parent-photographer from the football field on Sept. 20 and revoked his on-field privileges for future events.

The parent claims the action is in retaliation for negative comments he's made about school administrators in the past. Superintendent Christina Steffner denies those claims.

John Painter of Readington has been taking pictures of sports teams and marching bands from courtside and on the field for four years. The photos have been published on his Facebook page , I. C. Red, in the school paper, the yearbook and elsewhere and passed around by students via social media, he said.

Painter was escorted from the field by Principal Suzanne Cooley and Athletic Director Robert Rossi on Sept. 20 and was told he could take photographs from the stands, as do other parents.

His Facebook page is also where Painter has posted negative comments about decisions made by Steffner and other administrators in the past, and Painter claims that the decision to keep him from the field is the administration's response.

Not so, said Steffner today, Sept. 23.

While Steffner accused Painter of posting inaccurate information about his removal on his Facebook page, she said that her decision to deny him access to the field is "absolutely" not related to his earlier criticisms. She declined to say what might have caused her to make the decision on Sept. 20.

Some students protested Steffner's action by wearing red T-shirts bearing the words "I.C. Red" to school today, and are said to have planned a rally against the administration's move.

An online petition to reinstate Painter's on-field privileges launched shortly before midnight on Sept. 21 had received nearly 100 signatures this morning.

Painter, the parent of a junior girl in the marching band and a son who played with the band before graduating last spring, said he was first told that he was no longer welcome on the sidelines by Hunterdon Central Athletic Director Robert Rossi last winter during a girls' basketball game.

That was after Painter had posted on his Facebook page comments critical of the administration's decision to crack down on the dress code and its handling of behavior by Central's "superfans" who paint their faces and dress up outlandishly for home games.

"They (the superfans) did a chant that was out of line," Painter said, "and the (administration) cracked down very hard."

In a Sept. 21 email, Steffner wrote, "Mr. Painter, I am disappointed but as you chose to post inaccurate information on your Facebook page rather than have a conversation first and continue to attempt to use your Facebook page to influence students to your way of thinking I am not surprised. However, I was hoping your intentions were to understand. Should you change your mind I would be happy to have a conversation with you."

Steffner said that others who continued to shoot pictures from the field during the football game were affiliated with news agencies, booster clubs, student groups or the school's official photographer, all of whom are sanctioned and had sought permission ahead of time.

Steffner said that she hadn't been aware that Painter was being allowed on the field to take pictures until the middle of the 2012-13 school year, about the time he had been asked to stay off the court during the girls' basketball game. "Sometimes things happen and you don't know until it's brought to your attention," she said.

Steffner said that she, Cooley and Rossi met today to review district procedures that control who is allowed on the field during athletic events.